Electrical system



A. J. HALL.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. so. 1918.

1,433,717. Pafented 0t.31,1922..

Tia/ley.

fi'om Main Reservoir WITNESSES:

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6/ INVENTOR Arf/zur J f/a/l 7 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 31, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR J. HALE, WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, "ASSIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Application filed October 30,1918. 'Serial No. 260,307.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. HALL, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electrical Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical systems and particularly to the control of a circuitbreaking device under various operating conditions.

One object of my invention is to provide circuitbreaking apparatus and a governing system therefor, whereby the apparatus is closed pneumatically, held closed mechani cally and tripped or opened electrically.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in connection with electrical controlof. the pneumatic closing operation of the circuit breaker, a quick-acting application and release valve, whereby the breaker is pre vented from only partially closing.

A further object of my invention is to provide independent electrical circuits for manually effecting the closure of the circuit breaker and for automatically effecting the opening thereof after a predetermined time interval dependent upon the overload con ditions of the circuit to be protected.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a simple and convenient type of remote control for a circuit breaker, whereby the most suitable locations may be selected for the circuit breaker proper and the man ual-control apparatus therefor.

My invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. l is a combined view of the electrical and pneumatic connections that are employed in my invention for operating a circuit-breaking apparatus, the electrical circuits being shown diagrammatically and the mechanical members being illustrated partly in elevation and partly in section; and Fig. 2 is a view, in longitudinal section, of the quick-acting application and release valve that is employed in the system of Fig. 1.

The present apparatus is particularly applicable for use in railway locomotives or the like, although it should be .understood that it may also be readily applied to other types of systems wherever both a source of electrical energ and a source of fluid pressure are availa le.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the

locomotive through the agency of a suitable pantograph or trolley-wheel. The maincircuit conductor 1 of the present system is connected to the primary winding of a main transformer which need not be illustrated here, since it forms no material portion of the present invention. A series transformer 2 is energized from the main-circuit conductor 1 to control a time-element relay device 3 that automatically governs the tripping coil 4 of a circuit-breaker apparatus 5, which is adapted to protect the circuit including conductor 1. A source'6 of air or other fluid pressure is employedto close the circuit-breaker apparatus 5 through the agency of an electrically-controlled valve 7 and a quick-acting application and release valve 8, auxiliary control-circuit energy being supplied by a batteryB.

The time-element relay device 3 is shown as comprising an actuating coil 10 that is energized from the secondary winding of the series transformer 2 to magnetize a vertically movable core member 11, the lower end of which constitutes a piston 12 of metal or other electrically conducting material, floating upon a pool of mercury 13 which is contained in a receptacle 14 that is divided by a pair of suitable partitions .into a central compartment or chamber for housing the piston 12 and a pair of outer or side compartments that communicate with the central compartment through suitable apertures or openings near the bottoms of the partitions or inner walls.

The purpose of the piston 12 and the pool of mercury 13 is to complete the control circuit of the circuit-breaker tripping coil 4,

as illustrated, under normal operating conditions, as hereinafter more fully described. The operation of the time-element relay device is familiar to those skilled in the art and it is necessary to say here only that, while, under normal operating conditions, the tripping-coil circuit is closed through the pool of mercury, when a predetermined overload currentobtains in the main conductor 1, the actuating coil 10 is sufi'iciently energized to raise the piston 12 to a position that allows the mercury in the central chamber to reach the same level as that in the side compartments, whereby the auxiliary circuit in question is interrupted after a predetermined time interval. i

The use of a time-element relay is advantageous in that a lower current setting is allowed and, therefore, a greater degree of protection is secured, without danger of opening the circuit-breaker during I linevoltage surges. An opening interval of two seconds for the relay will provide time for the sub-station circu1t-breakers to open upon the occurrence of a heavy short-circuit.

The tr pping coil 4 is located in a suitablyrecessed portion 20 of the circuit-breaker frame and encloses a magnetizable' core 21 that is adapted to attract and engage a-bellthe armature 22 to its tripped or open position, thus releasing the arm 24 to effect the opening of .the main circuit-breaker contact members.

Although the illustrated circuit-breaker mechanism is particularly adapted for use in connection with an oil switch, it should be understood that my invention is not so restricted in its application, but any equiva lent type of circuit-breaker or switching mechanism may also be employed in connection with the present invention.

The circuit-breaker apparatus 5 is shown as comprising the main operating arm or lever 24, which is pivoted at an intermediate point 26 upon a frame or supporting member 27, which may be secured to the top a cover member of the oil switch, or its equivalent, in any suitable manner. The operating rod 28 for the movable member of the oil switch is connected to the end of the operating arm 24 that is remote from the latching mechanism, and a second rod orpiston stem 29 is pivotally mounted upon the operating lever 24 at apoint intermediate the switch .rod 28 and the pivotal point 26 of the arm. The lower end of the rod 29 constitutes a suitable piston 30 which travels within an operating cylinder 31 and is biased to its lowermost position by a helical spring 32. Fluid pressure is admitted from a pipe or passage 33 beneath the piston 30 to overcome the biasing action of the spring 32 and raise the switch rod 28 to its eeann upper or circuit-closing positiomprovided a predetermined degree of air pressure is available to insure the complete closure of the switch contacts. The illustrated mechanical latching device comprisingthe bell-crank armature 22 and the operating arm 24 thereupon engage to maintain the circuit-breaken'in its closed position as long as the tripping coil 4 is energized. The complete independence of the closing and the opening apparatus for the switching mechanism has the advantages of simplicity in construction and reliability of operation.

The fluid-pressure pipe 33 effects communication between the operating cylinder and they quick-acting application and release valve 8, whence pneumatic connection is continued throughan electrically-controlled valve member 7, a T-joint34 and a threeway valve 35 either to a pipe 36leading to the main reservoir of fluid pressure or to an auxiliary source of fluid pressure, such as a tank 37, to which air under pressure is supplied by means of a suitable handpump 38 through a check valve 39 that permits the flow of air from the pump to the tank 37.

The three-way valve 35 may occupy the illustrated position a to permit the flow of fluid pressure from the auxiliary source or tank 37 to the circuit-breaker-closing cylinder 31, or the valve may be actuated to its other operative position m to effect communication between the main reservoir pipe 36 and the pneumatic operating mechanism for the circuit-breaker. When the locomotive has been idle and disconnected from the trolley for some time, the main reservoir pressure is either very low or entirely absent, by reason of the fact that the electric motordriven air-compressor has not recently been employed to pump up the air pressure,- and,

under such circumstances, the customarily provided hand-pump 38 is operated by the handle member 45 to force air from the cylinder 46 through the check-valve 39 into the auxiliary control tank or reservoir 37 and thence, through the three-way valve 35 in its illustrated position a, to the T-joint 34, where the pneumatic connection divides, one branch including an electrically-controlled valve member 49 comprising an actuating coil 50 and a normally closed valve 51 that is governed by the actuatingcoil 50, further pneumatic communication being continued through pipe 52 to a trolley unlock cylinder 53, of a familiar type, ior effecting the elevation of the pantograph to the supply-conductor trolley, thereby permitting the motor-driven pumps to operate and fill the main reservoir.

The other pneumatic branch from the T- joint 34-comprises the electrically-controlled valve 7 which, like the valve 49. also embodies an actuating 'coil 54 and a normally tion and release valve 8 and pi closed valve 55, the pneumatic connection further including the quick-acting applica- 33, which leads into the circuit-breaker-c osing cylinder 31.

The quick-acting application and release valve 8 is not per se of my present invention but is inserted in the illustrated pneumatic connection for the above-mentioned purpose of insuring a complete closure of the circuitbreaker contact members. The valve is shown in section in Fig. 2 as comprising an outer encasing member having an inlet opening 61, a supply outlet opening 62 and an exhaust opening 63. An annular bearing block or cylindrical member 64:, forming a part of the encasing member 60, encloses a stationary bearing sleeve 65 of brass or similar material, within which a sliding valve member 66, of like material, is disposed to rest upon an annular valve seat 67, a helical spring 68 being located withinthe valve member 66 to bias it to the illustrated lower or closed position.

The operation of the valve 8 may be briefly described as follows. Air is admitted, through the inlet opening 61, to a chamber 70, as indicated by the solid arrows, to lift the slidable valve member 66 from its seat 67 and permit the passage of air into an outlet chamber 71 from which the supply outlet opening 62 leads. If the air pressure is of a sufficiently high value to insure the complete closure of the circuit-breaker contact members, the sliding valve member 66 is instantaneously actuated to its uppermost position to permit the passage of the full air pressure through the supply outlet opening 62 to the circmt-breaker-closing cylinder 31. However, if the air pressure is relatively low and cannot efi'ect more than a partial closure of the circuit breaker, the sliding valve member 66 is not actuated to its uppermost position, ,but'to an intermediate positiori'that is determined by the relative forces exerted by the air pressure and the biasing sprin 68, whereby the air follows the course of t e dotted arrows from the outlet chamber 71 through a passage 72 located just above the sliding valve member 66 and thence out, through a vertical passage 73, to the exhaust outlet openin 63. In this way, the air pressure is rapidly dissipated, and actuation of the circuit-breaker closing cylinder is precluded.

It will be understood that any other suitable device for performing the same function as that accomplished by the quick-acting application and release valve 8 may be substituted therefor.

Assuming that it is desired to actuate the circuit breaker 5 from the initially open position to the illustrated closed position, a push-button 7 5, conveniently located at any point remote from the circuit-breaker proper, preferably in the locomotive cab near the or master'controller apparatus, is pressed by the train operator to close a circuit from the positive terminal of the battery B through conductor 76, a suitable tram-line conductor 77, hand-switch 78, push-button75, conductor 79, actuating coil 54 of the closing valve 7, and conductors 80 and 81, to the negative battery terminal. The valve 7 is thus opened to admit fluid pressure from either the main reservoir or the auxiliary tank 37, as illustrated, through the previously traced pneumatic communicat system, to the operating cylinder 31 to e ect upward movement of the piston 30 to the illustrated position and, therefore, the

closure of the oil-switch contact members and the locking of the operating arm 24 in the valve 7 again closes to interrupt communication with the operating cylinder 31, but

the breaker is maintained in its closed position by reason of the co-operating electromagnetic action of the bell-crank armature member 22 and the tripping coil 4:1Whi0h, under normal operating conditions, is maintained energized through a circuit including the train-line conductor 77, conductor 82, piston 12 and mercury pool 13 of the timeelement relay device 3, conductor 83, tripping coil 4, conductor 84 and the negative battery conductor 81.

Upon the occurrence of a predetermined overload condition in the main-circuit conductor 1, that is, in the circuit including the circuit-breaker; the time-element relay device 3 is actuated, as alreadv described, to

interrupt the connection of the mercury pool 13 with the conductor 83, thereby deenergizing the tripping coil 4 and permitting the spring 25 to actuate the bell-crank armature member 22 to its open position, whereby theswitch rod .28 is immediately actuated to its lower or open circuit position by the spring 32 that is contained in the opcrating cylinder 31.

Itwill be seen um. 1-.ha' atm1spmvida a relatively simple remote ontrol system for operating a circuit-breaker upon a.-l0 comotive, for example, provision made. for the manually-controlled pneumatic closing, mechanical hol and automatic electrical tripping of the clrcuit breaker.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specific circuit connections or arrangement and construction of parts herein set forth, as various modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of my invention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a movable switching mechanism, of a source of fluid pressure, manually-governed means for electrically opening communication between said source and said mechanism to eflect the closure thereof, and means for preventing such closure unless a predetermined degree of fluid pressure obtains.

2. The combination with switching mechanism, of a source of fluid pressure, a valve for normally closing communication between said source and said mechanism, manual remote-control means for electrically opening said valve to effect the closure of said switching mechanism, and a further valve interposed between the first-named valve and said mechanism for preventing said closure by dissipating the fluid pressure unless a predetermined degree of pressure obtains.

3. The combination with a. movable switching mechanism, of a main source and anauxiliary source of air pressure, a handpump for supplying said auxiliary source, a three-way valve for establishing partial pneumatic communciation between either of switching mechanism, of a main source of air said sources and said mechanism, remotecontrol means for completing said communication to close the mechanism, and means for preventing such closure unless a predetermined degree ofv air pressure obtains,

l. The combination with a movable pressure, an auxiliary source of air ressure adapted for use with both said switching mechanism and with other devices, a three-way valve for establishing partial pneumatic communication between either of said sources and said mechanism, a valve electrically actuated to complete said coma movablemunication to close said mechanism, and a further valve interposed between the electrically-actuated valve and said mechanism or preventing the closure of the mechanism by dissipating the air pressure unless a predetermined degree of pressure obtains.

5. The combination with a movable switching member, of a source of fluid pressure, remote-control means for governing the application of fluid pressure from said of fluid pressure, means for establishing par-- tial pneumatic communication between either of said sources and said member, remotecontrol means for completing said communication to close the mechanism, and means for preventing such closure unless a predetermined degree of pressure obtains.

7. The combination with a movable switching member, of a piston-and-cylinder mechanism for normally eflect-ihg the operation of said member, means for governing the; application offluid pressure to said mechanism, and means for preventing one operation of said member unless a predetermined degree oi fluid \pressure is available.

In testimony whereofiil have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th day of Get. 1918.

ARTHUR J. HALL. 

